The Independent (Banjul)

Gambia: PS Stresses Importance of Energy

Banjul — In her remarks at the CILLS-sponsored two-day validation workshop on
the household energy strategy in The Gambia, the permanent secretary
at the office of the President, Mrs. Teneng Jaiteh has hailed the
importance of domestic energy, which she said, is among the most
important uses of energy in Sahelian countries, in particular The
Gambia.

The workshop was organised by Promotion of Domestic and Alternative
Energy, PREDAS. She said energy has a direct bearing on our daily
lives since nobody can live with it. And like countries in the Sahel,
The Gambia still depends on fuel wood as its principal source of
domestic energy at the household level. He added that fuel wood
should not be used as the only source of domestic energy, adding that
other energies are liquidified petroleum gas, kerosene, solar
thermal, photovoltaic and electricity.

She said that The Gambia and Sahelian countries heavily depend on
fuel wood. She added that 80% of the energy consumed comes from fuel
wood.

She said fuel wood consumption has increased from 279.83 tonnes to
374.89 tonnes between 1993 and 2004. This had indicated an increase
of about 28%.

This trend, she added, is characteristic of sub-Saharan countries,
especially those in the Sahel region. "The over dependence of the
ever increasing population of the Sahelian countries on fuel wood as
the main domestic energy resulted in the rapid disappearance of the
natural forest cover and subsequent environmental degradation. As a
result of these negative environmental consequences, CILLS in
collaboration with its member countries has developed a regional
approach for the PREDAS."

The main focus of PREDAS is to judiciously use the wood resources by
promoting its rational exploitation and at the same time providing
regular and affordable supply, promote the increase in wood
potential, empowering the rural communities in the management of the
forest resources, promote efficient wood stores, and promote
renewable/alternative energy technologies and fuels.

In order to achieve these stated objectives, Mrs. Jaiteh pointed out,
a household strategy was necessary. "In this vein, PREDAS funded
studies at the national level for the development of strategy. These
studies included national domestic energy consumption survey, review
of the charcoal consumption assess the potential for producing
carbonized briquettes, review of the experiences with community based
natural resources, and household energy strategy," she said.

She thanked the EU, CILLS and Development Management Consultants
International for their support to the programme. "Going through the
documents, one would realise that the consultant did not only limit
himself to the core problems of the assignment, but has gone further
to make analysis of the causes of the problems and how to stem out."

He thanked the consultant, DMCI for providing what she referred to as
a detail and comprehensive document. "I am sure it would be a
relevant reference document, not only for the Energy Department but
all the stakeholders present here today. I therefore urge all
participants to activity participate in the deliberations so as to
come out with a national household energy strategy that is relevant
and implementable."

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